A family's dream holiday turned into a nightmare when their home was burgled and their car vanished from a ‘meet and greet’ car park near Manchester Airport.

The Firth family, from Penrhyn Bay, booked their vehicle with Car Park Manchester, on July 31, at a cost of £82, before they jetted off on a two week holiday to Menorca.

The company, which is not operated by Manchester Airport, offers a meet and greet style service.

Georgina Firth, 41, says they met a company representative at Terminal 2, who inspected their vehicle for any damage before it was driven away to their compound which is “less than one mile away from Manchester Airport”.

When they returned to Manchester on Monday (August 14) they say they contacted the company to arrange for their car to be brought to them at the terminal.

They claim they were told by Car Park Manchester staff their Audi A4 car could not be found.

The family's Audi which has been stolen

After a two hour wait they say a taxi was sent by the firm to collect them instead and take them home.

It was a second blow for the school secretary who had been contacted by her 17-year-old son Nathan three days earlier on Friday, August 11, to say two males had broken into their home and come into his bedroom. He managed to chase them off.

Mrs Firth, who has since changed the locks on her home, added: “Two men walked into my son’s bedroom at 10.30pm.

“Nathan had been lying on his bed listening to music with his headphones on.

“He challenged them and chased them out of the house, so they didn’t manage to take anything.”

“But it was a terrible shock to discover our Audi had been stolen."

“At first they just said they couldn’t locate it, and after two hours of calls we were offered a taxi home. They later admitted the car had gone.

“What’s even worse is that we have to use our own insurance to pursue this, as Car Park Manchester are saying they are only insured when driving the vehicle from the airport drop off/pick up to the compound.”

A Greater Manchester Police spokesman said: “We are investigating the theft of a motor vehicle that was stolen between 4am, July 31 to 12am August 13, that was dropped off at Terminal 2 at Manchester Airport.”

A spokesman for Car Park Manchester said: "We are a private meet and greet service who have been operating from just approx a mile from Manchester Airport successfully for a long time.

"We have 24/7 CCTV and at least 12 members of staff on site at all times. The compound is gated and lit with floodlights and is also Park Mark Awarded by the BPA.

"We are very shocked and saddened by what has happened and are working closely with the police and her insurance companies to try and resolve this matter amicably.

"We have also sent the keys back as requested by the insurance company."